PORTLAND -- With Labor Day weekend approaching, Oregon Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner and six state legislators who are labor union members announced their support for Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate Thursday.

"Jeff Merkley's leadership in the House has opened doors for workers all across Oregon. He has been a real ally in protecting prevailing wage jobs and the minimum wage, expanding collective bargaining rights, protect our firefighters and police officers and strengthening Oregon's family leave laws," Gardner said. "That's the kind of leadership Oregon needs in the U.S. Senate, and Jeff's the guy to get it done."

"Working families are the backbone of our economy, but clearly Gordon Smith doesn't get that, or he just doesn't care. Instead, he has made it his job to rubber stamp every corporate tax give away George Bush puts in front of him," Merkley said. "Multi-national corporations have plenty of friends in the Senate. Oregon's working families need someone to stand with them."

Representing nurses, teachers, police officers, carpenters and other workers, the union members endorsing Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate are: